Don't get me wrong, my husband and I weren't doing anything to prevent conception. We just figured that becoming pregnant at the moment was an impossibility. I thought the odds were in my favor to NOT conceive for a while. I had two major things causing "minor" infertility - breastfeeding a baby often and a luteal phase defect. With these things in mind, we made love without a second thought to the possibility of conceiving right away. Let's take a look at my track record up to that point.
I breastfed my son for 12 months and my first daughter for 19 months using no protection. In fact I weaned my daughter just so I could conceive my 3rd baby and it was a whole 9 months after I weaned her that I finally conceived. Again, my luteal phase, once I learned how to chart, was deficient, 9 days. I worked hard to correct that, wean my baby and then I conceived. This time around is a whole other story - one that throws the "theories" of my supposed infertility out the door.
First, let's look at my luteal phase. In September 2001 it was only 7 days. In October 2001 it was 6 days. By November it had climbed to 9 days. No predictable pattern, and I figured the fact that I was breastfeeding my one year old more than six times a day and all through the night. But I did do some things differently the month I conceived this one.
In December 2001 I began taking 50 mg of vitamin B6 to help alleviate PMS. I also, once I confirmed ovulation (confirmed through charting and use of my- Cue II Ovulation Monitor) I began using a natural progesterone cream again to alleviate PMS. Little did I realize how I was boosting my fertility!
My husband and I found the times we could be together rare. With three children - one of which co-slept with us, I was either too busy or too tired. What little time we did have was far and few between, if we could sneak a chance alone we took it. On December 18, 2001 we found such an opportunity and took advantage. I knew that I was going to ovulate soon due to the peak I saw in my ovulation monitor, but with my luteal phase defect and with the breastfeeding I figured conception wouldn't happen.
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